Shrub rose plant named &#39;Meigalpio&#39;

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct variety of landscape shrub rose plant is provided which abundantly forms on a nearly continuous basis attractive small brilliant red-pink blossoms having good color stability. The plant exhibits a low, compact and bushy growth habit. Good disease tolerance including resistance to Black Spot has been displayed. The attractive dark green foliage contrasts nicely with the red-pink blossom coloration. The new variety is particularly well suited for growing as attractive ornamentation in the landscape.

BOTANICAL/COMMERCIAL CLASSIFICATION

Rosa hybrida/Shrub Rose

VARIETAL DENOMINATION

cv. ‘Meigalpio’

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The new variety of Rosa hybrida shrub rose plant was created byartificial pollination wherein two parents were crossed which previouslyhad been studied in the hope that they would contribute the desiredcharacteristics. The female parent (i.e., the seed parent) was anon-patented and unnamed seedling formed by the cross of ‘The Fairy’variety (non-patented in the United States) and the ‘Kormax’ variety(non-patented in the United States). The male parent (i.e., the pollenparent) was a non-patented and unnamed seedling formed by the cross ofanother non-patented and unnamed seedling and the “Morpapplay” variety(U.S. Plant Pat. No. 6,548). The parentage of the new variety can besummarized as follows:(‘The Fairy’×‘Kormax’)×(Unnamed Seedling×‘Morpapplay’).

The seeds resulting from the above pollination were sown and smallplants were obtained which were physically and biologically differentfrom each other. Selective study resulted in the identification of asingle plant of the new variety.

It was found that the new variety of the present invention

(a) exhibits a low, compact and bushy growth habit,

(b) abundantly forms in clusters on a nearly continuous basis attractivesmall brilliant red-pink blossoms having a good color stability,

(c) forms very dense dark green foliage having a semi-glossy aspect thatcontrasts well with the blossom coloration, and

(d) is particularly well suited for growing as attractive ornamentationin the landscape.

The tolerance to diseases is good. During observations to date the planthas been resistant to Black Spot.

The new variety well meets the needs of the horticultural industry andcan be grown to advantage in parks and gardens where attractiveornamentation is desired.

The new variety can be readily distinguished from its ancestors. Forinstance, ‘The Fairy’ variety forms light pink blossoms, the ‘Kormax’variety forms considerably larger red blossoms having only six petals,and the ‘Morpapplay’ variety forms dark orange-red blossoms having abright yellow eye.

The new variety has been found to undergo asexual propagation in Franceby a number of routes, including budding, grafting, and cuttage. Asexualpropagation by the above-mentioned techniques in France has shown thatthe characteristics of the new variety are stable and are strictlytransmissible by such asexual propagation from one generation toanother.

The new variety has been named ‘Meigalpio’.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH

The accompanying photograph shows as nearly true as it is reasonablypossible to make the same, in a color illustration of this character,typical specimens of the plant parts of the new variety. The rose plantsof the new variety were approximately eighteen months of age and wereobserved during August while budded on Rosa froebelli understock andgrowing outdoors at Le Cannet des Maures, Var, France. Dimensions incentimeters are indicated at the bottom of the photograph.

FIG. 1—illustrates a specimen of a young shoot;

FIG. 2—illustrates a specimen of a floral bud before the opening of thesepals;

FIG. 3—illustrate specimens of two floral bud at the opening of thesepals;

FIG. 4—illustrates a specimen of a floral bud at the opening of thepetals;

FIG. 5—illustrates a specimen of a flower in the course of opening;

FIG. 6—illustrates a specimen of an open flower—plan view—obverse;

FIG. 7—illustrates a specimen of an open flower—plan view—reverse;

FIG. 8—illustrates a specimen of a fully open flower—plan view—obverse;

FIG. 9—illustrates a specimen of a fully open flower—plan view—reverse;

FIG. 10—illustrates a specimen of a floral receptacle showing thearrangement of the stamens and pistils;

FIG. 11—illustrates a specimen of a floral receptacle showing thearrangement of the pistils (stamens removed);

FIG. 12—illustrates a specimen of a flowering stem;

FIG. 13—illustrates a specimen of a main branch;

FIG. 14—illustrates specimens of leaves with three leaflets—planview—upper and under surfaces;

FIG. 15—illustrates specimens of leaves with five leaflets—planview—upper and under surfaces;

FIG. 16—illustrates specimens of leaves with seven leaflets—planview—upper and under surfaces; and

FIG. 17—illustrates a cluster of buds.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The chart used in the identification of the colors is that of The RoyalHorticultural Society (R.H.S. Colour Chart). The description is based onthe observation of eighteen month-old plants during August while buddedon Rosa froebelli understock and growing outdoors at Le Cannet desMaures, Var, France.

-   Class: Landscape Shrub.-   Plant:    -   -   Height.—approximately 30 to 40 cm on average at the end of            the growing season.        -   Width.—approximately 40 to 45 cm on average at the end of            the growing season.        -   Habit.—low, bushy and compact.-   Branches:    -   -   Color.—young stems: near Green Group 143C. — adult wood:            near Yellow-Green Group 144B.        -   Thorns.—size and quantity: on 16 cm of young stems            approximately 14 on average approximately 0.6 cm in length;            and on 18 cm of adult stems approximately 22 on average            approximately 0.6 cm in length. — color: near Greyed-Orange            Group 176A on young stems, and near Greyed-Orange Group 176B            on adult stems. — configuration: very longish pointed and            curved downwards on the upper surface and slightly concave            on the under surface with an obovate base.        -   Small prickles.—size and quantity: on 16 cm of young stems            approximately 6 on average approximately 0.3 cm in length. —            color: near Greyed-Yellow Group 161A suffused with            Greyed-Orange Group 176B. — configuration: possess an            obovate base.-   Leaves:    -   -   Stipules.—adnate, pectinate, smooth, broad, approximately            2.5 cm in length on average, approximately 0.8 cm in width            on average, near Yellow-Green Group 147A on the upper            surface, and near Yellow-Green Group 146B on the under            surface.        -   Petioles.—upper surface: non-glandular and near Yellow-Green            Group 147B in coloration. — under surface: bears a few            prickles and near Yellow-Green Group 146C in coloration. —            length: approximately 0.3 cm for the terminal leaflet.        -   Petiole rachis.—upper surface: near Yellow-Green Group 147B            in coloration. — under surface: near Yellow-Green Group 146B            in coloration.        -   Leaflets.—number 3, 5 and 7 (most often). — shape: generally            oval with an obtuse base and a pointed tip. — size: the            terminal leaflets commonly are approximately 2.6 cm in            length on average, and approximately 1.2 cm in width on            average. — serration: single and fine. — texture: firm and            consistent. — general appearance: very dense, dark green            with a semi-glossy aspect. — color (young foliage): upper            surface: near Yellow-Green Group 147A. under surface: near            Yellow-Green Group 146B. — color (adult foliage): upper            surface: near Yellow-Green Group 147A. under surface: near            Yellow-Green Group 146B.-   Inflorescence:    -   -   Number of flowers.—commonly approximately 6 to 15 flowers            per stem in a cluster.        -   Peduncle.—rigid, near Yellow-Green Group 144A in coloration,            glandular, approximately 2.5 cm in length on average, and            approximately 0.1 cm in diameter on average.        -   Sepals.—upper surface: tomentose consistent and near Green            Group 138B and 138C in coloration. — under surface:            glandular and near Green Group 143A in coloration. —            configuration: narrow with a longish point and uncurved at            the base. — size: approximately 1.1 cm in length on average,            and approximately 0.8 cm in width at the widest point on            average.        -   Buds.—shape: conical. — size: small. — length: approximately            1.1 cm on average. — width: approximately 0.8 cm at the            widest point on average. — color: upper surface: near Red            Group 54B amply suffused with Red Group 45B as the calyx            breaks. undersurface: near Red Group 54B amply with Red            Group 45B as the calyx breaks. basal petal spot: near Yellow            Group 8B on both surface.        -   Flower.—shape: generally cup-shaped. — diameter:            approximately 4 cm on average. — color (in course of            opening): uppersurface: Red-Purple Group 57A and amply            suffused with Red-Purple Group 58A. under surface: near            Red-Purple Group 57A and amply suffused with Red-Purple            Group 58A. basal petal spot: near Yellow Group 6D. — color            (open flower): upper surface: near Red-Purple Group 57A and            amply suffused with Red-Purple Group 58A. under surface:            near Red-Purple Group 57A and amply suffused with Red-Purple            Group 58A. basal petal spot: near Yellow Group 6D. — color            stability: very good. — fragrance: none. — lasting quality:            the blossoms commonly last approximately 2 to 3 weeks on the            plant on average depending upon the environment conditions.            — petal number: approximately 14 on average under normal            growing conditions. — petal size: approximately 1.7 cm in            length on average, and approximately 1.5 cm in width on            average. — petal texture: smooth. — petaloids: small and            present at center. — petal shape: rounded tip and obtuse            base. — petal arrangement: imbricated. — petal drop: good            with the petals commonly detaching cleanly before drying. —            stamen number: approximately 30 on average. — anthers:            regularly arranged around the styles, the approximately 0.1            cm in size on average, and near Greyed-Orange Group 166A in            coloration. — pollen: sparsely present and near            Greyed-Orange Group 166A in coloration. — filaments: near            Yellow Group 12C in coloration, and approximately 0.4 cm in            length on average. — pistils: approximately 15 on average. —            stigmas: near Greyed-Green Group 160B in coloration, and            approximately 0.1 cm in size. — styles: near Greyed-Green            Group 191C in coloration, and approximately 0.3 cm in length            on average. — receptacle: glandular, near Yellow-Green Group            144A in coloration, and pitcher-shaped in longitudinal            section. The length commonly is approximately 0.5 cm on            average and the width commonly is approximately 0.3 cm on            average. — hips: none observed.-   Development:    -   -   Vegetation.—medium.        -   Blooming.—abundant and nearly continuous.        -   Resistance to diseases.—good disease tolerance and resistant            to Black Spot during observations to date.        -   Aptitude to bear fruit.—none observed during observations to            date.

1. A new and distinct landscape shrub rose plant characterized by thefollowing combination of characteristics: (a) exhibits a low, compactand bushy growth habit, (b) abundantly forms in clusters on a nearlycontinuous basis attractive small brilliant red-pink blossoms havinggood color stability, (c) forms very dense dark green foliage having asemi-glossy aspect that contrasts well with the blossom coloration, and(d) is particularly well suited for growing as attractive ornamentationin the landscape; substantially as herein shown and described.